Doctors flee UK to work abroad

THOUSANDS of doctors trained by the NHS are fleeing Britain to start new careers in Australia and New Zealand.

Thousands of NHS trained doctors are leaving to start new careers in Australia and New Zealand []

More than 8,000 whose studies were paid for by UK taxpayers have requested certificates to work there.

The “brain drain” is blamed on a lack of jobs in hospitals in Britain and also many young doctors do not have the experience to set up in private practice.

Figures show the number of Australian permanent visas issued to UK-trained doctors has almost tripled in the past five years, with 645 granted in 2010/2011.

Alan Bell, of the Association of Medical Recruiters of Australia and New Zealand, said: “We’ve seen a general increase in the number of doctors and health professionals from the UK, particularly from England for doctors.